Lessons with Gum Gang: Homemade Remedies

A large tub of Umeshu – preserved plum juice with healthy side effects

As much as a shaman performs or gives counsel to help others, their attachment to well-being and tradition touches many different parts of daily life. One of these is in diet and remedy, taking as much care with what we put into our bodies as what we do with them. Healthier people make happier people, and in turn a better community. As a result understanding traditional medical knowledge was and still is a large part of the role that Mudang play as social guides. Just as 1+1= a bigger 1, proper circulation and staying active throughout the day play a large role in how we live our lives, and in turn the quality of work we produce. These easy recipes  address different long term afflictions that may not be easily (or cheaply) answered through modern methods.

Whether or not one puts stock in these recipes, they also represent an important aspect of tradition and culture that figures like Mudang preserve. These different natural remedies were used to heal in ancient Korea, remnants of an older way of life that we can learn from and cherish. These remedies don’t just represent something we can use today, but also display a way of thinking that we often pass over in modern life.